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San Francisco Just Elected Its First Black Female Mayor

London Breed is a San Francisco native and a long-time affordable housing advocate.

The outcome of San Francisco’s mayoral special election was more than special — it was historic.

London Breed won a tight race to become the city’s first black female mayor, and its second female mayor ever, on Wednesday. Of the 15 largest cities in the US, San Francisco is now the only one led by a woman, according to the BBC.

Over the past several decades, San Francisco’s black population has drastically dropped. And its decline only sped up as the tech industry moved in and took over the city. In 2016, African-Americans made up just 5% of San Francisco’s population, compared to nearly 14% in 1970, according to the New York Times.

The rapid gentrification of the city and the tech industry’s takeover caused the cost of living in San Francisco to skyrocket. As a result many families from all backgrounds to move outside of the city. Black businesses and families were particularly hard hit, the New York Times reported, leading to their exodus out of the city.

Congrats @LondonBreed on your historic election to be the new Mayor of San Francisco! In the last two weeks of the campaign I left my job and volunteered full time to help get London elected, and I could not be more proud or satisfied to have been part of her incredible campaign! pic.twitter.com/yP9VqTDz2Q

Congratulations Mayor London Breed - the Future is Watching - and Today You showed Children of All Races and Ethnicities - All Gender Identities - What is Possible - We Look Forward with Great Excitement to Your Leadership for this Generation and the Next 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/pwOFoOAmFA